Major Employers

Winnipeg's Major Employers: World-Class and Competitive

Many industry-leading firms are located in Winnipeg, which contribute to our city's famously diverse and stable economy. The 16 companies highlighted here represent multiple sectors. From advanced manufacturing to transportation and distribution (and six more sectors besides), these 16 firms are indicative of the kinds of powerhouses Winnipeg champions throughout the world. With heavy-hitters like these, no wonder local business leaders say Winnipeg routinely punches above its weight.

1. Bison Transport Inc. – Transportation & Distribution

Bison Transport was incorporated in 1969. One of the largest truckload carriers in Canada today, Bison Transport serves Canada and the 48 nearby states. As a high-service, dependable and value-creating supply chain partner, Bison Transport offers full truckload service, full-service logistics, dedicated fleet operations, yard management, and warehousing and distribution.

3. Buhler Industries Inc. – Advanced Manufacturing

Buhler Industries is an agricultural equipment manufacturer with several brands, including Versalite (tractors and sprayers), Farm King (grain handling) and others. The firm sells through a dealer/distribution network in North America and the Rostselmash network of more than 200 dealers in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Buhler employs more than 770 workers.

4. Emergent BioSolutions – Life Sciences

Emergent BioSolutions is a fully integrated developer and manufacturer of immune therapeutics, primarily targeting infectious disease, hematology, transplantation and biodefense applications. Four of its hyperimmune products have been approved in the United States and/or Canada, and three products are included in the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile. Emergent BioSolutions is committed to the safety and quality of its products, the service of its customers and the interests of its shareholders.

5. Investors Group Financial Services – Financial Services

Investors Group is one of Canada’s premier personal financial services companies. It is among the country’s largest managers and distributors of mutual funds and other managed asset products. The company offers financial planning such as retirement, estate, tax planning, mutual funds and a range of other investment products and financial services. It offers brokerage services through Investors Group Securities Inc. (IGSI) and a full suite of insurance products, mortgages and banking.

6. James Richardson & Sons, Limited – Agribusiness

James Richardson & Sons is a family-owned Canadian company established in 1857 and headquartered in Winnipeg. The firm manages successful operations in agriculture and food processing through Richardson International Limited, oil and gas exploration through Tundra Oil & Gas Limited, financial services through Richardson Financial Group and property management through Richardson Centre Limited.

7. Magellan Aerospace, Winnipeg – Aerospace

Magellan Aerospace, Winnipeg is a division of Magellan Aerospace Limited, a globally integrated aerospacecompany that provides complex assemblies and systems solutions to aircraft and engine manufacturers as well as defence and space agencies worldwide. Magellan is a public company whose shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MAL), with operating units throughout Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, India and Poland. Its head office is located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and Magellan employs approximately 3,500 people throughout all of its divisions.

8. Manitoba Hydro – Energy & Environment

Manitoba Hydro is a Crown corporation. It’s the province’s major energy utility and one of the largest energy and natural gas utilities in Canada. Its head office is located in downtown Winnipeg. Manitoba Hydro is amongst the lowest-cost providers of domestic electricity in Canada. It exports electricity to electric utilities through three wholesale markets in Canada and the Midwest United States, and it offers a wide range of energy services and programs to its customers. Manitoba Hydro generates over 98 per cent of its electricity from self-renewing water power using hydroelectric generating stations.

9. MTS – Information, Communications and Technology

MTS is one of Canada’s largest business telecommunications providers by market share, employing approximately 3,000 in Manitoba. The company has invested more than $200 million over the past 10 years to ensure that Manitoba’s broadband networks are second-to-none in North America.

10. New Flyer Industries – Advanced Manufacturing

New Flyer Industries is the leading manufacturer of heavy-duty buses in the U.S. and Canada, founded in 1930. Offering the broadest line of transit vehicles, they provide reliable transportation solutions that meet the needs of today while anticipating the needs of tomorrow. Known for breaking new ground with the first low-floor bus, the first diesel-electric bus and, most recently, the world’s first zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell fleet, New Flyer remains dedicated to innovation and excellence while providing customers with a wide range of products.

11. NYGÅRD International – Advanced Manufacturing

NYGÅRD International, headquartered in Winnipeg, is a leading fashion company that designs and markets women’s fashion apparel. NYGÅRD has corporate facilities in New York, Toronto and Winnipeg. The NYGÅRD name is expanding at an ever-increasing pace. In addition to its various product lines, NYGÅRD now offers an array of licensed products. Over the past 10 years, NYGÅRD has broadened its fashion repertoire to include outerwear, swimwear, footwear, handbags, jewelry, accessories (scarves, hats and gloves), belts, sunglasses and soft home furnishings (‘NYGÅRD Home’).

12. Pollard Banknote Limited – Advanced Manufacturing

Pollard Banknote has been in the instant ticket business for over 30 years. The success enjoyed to date has been based on an ability to form partnerships with its clients that are focused on the mutual goal of driving revenue. Pollard Banknote emphasizes innovation to bring new ideas, methods and products to the market. The company is known for having the best-looking tickets, with “like butter” scratch-ability and realistic play logic.

Skybridge Americas offers fulfillment solutions, such as call centre, continuity management, multichannel sales, eCommerce, business to business integration, business to consumer integration, catalog management, data security, supply chain management, lot control, drop ship management, shipping and tracking, refurbish and returns management, inventory management, data entry, payment processing and order management solutions. The company provides contact centre solutions, including first response, inside sales, customer support, interactive voice response and site management. Skybridge Americas, Inc. was formerly known as Carlson Marketing Services. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Greenfield, Minnesota. It has call centres in Minneapolis and Winnipeg. Skybridge Americas, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of AHL Services, Inc.

14. The North West Company – Advanced Manufacturing

The North West Company is a leading retailer to underserved rural communities and urban neighborhood markets. Its stores offer a broad range of products and services, with an emphasis on food. Core strengths include its ability to adapt the product mix to each market it serves, logistics expertise and knowledge in serving indigenous and lower-income customers. North West is one of the longest continuing retail enterprises in the world.

15. The Great-West Life Assurance Company – Financial Services

The Great-West Life Assurance Company, founded in Winnipeg in 1891, is a leading Canadian insurer, with interests in the life insurance, health insurance, investment and retirement savings and reinsurance businesses, primarily in Canada and Europe. Together, Great-West Life and its subsidiaries serve the financial security needs of more than 12 million people across Canada.

16. Winpak Ltd. – Advanced Manufacturing

Winpak manufactures and distributes high-quality packaging materials and related innovative packaging machines. The company's products are used primarily for the protection of perishable foods, beverages and in health-care applications. Winpak, part of a global packaging group, operates 10 production facilities throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico. Cost-effective and innovative packaging solutions are tailored to its customers’ businesses and products worldwide by using the most advanced technology available.

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Winnipeg is one of only two Canadian cities with three Class 1 railways (CN, CP and BNSF).

5800+

Over 5,800 transportation and distribution establishments exist in Winnipeg, employing more than 45,000 people.

#1

Winnipeg is the most cost-effective city for aerospace manufacturing in Western Canada and the U.S. Midwest (KPMG's Competitive Alternatives, 2016).